Flushing-tank for siphon-closets



UNITED STATES JOHN S. SWEENY, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

FLUSHlNG-TNK FOR SIPHON-CLOSETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application lcd January 22, 1919, Serial No. 272,526. Renewed April 30, 1921. Serial No. 165,924.

To all 'w hom it may concern Be it known that JOHN S. SwnnNY, citizen oi" the United States, residing at 3127 Avenue O, Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, has invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Tanks for Siphon-Closets, ot which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in flushing tanks for Siphon-closets.

rlhe primary object ot the invention is to provide improved means for creating a partial vacuum to siphon the water for flushing purposes, whereby to insure of the continued action of the parts.

A further object ot the invention is to provide improved means tor destroying the partial vacuum to prevent the siphon action of the water destroying the trap or seal, and

to also render the action ot the water noiseless.

The invention also provides improved means for quickly and accurately closing the inlet valve when the water reaches the required level in the tank.

The invention also eomprehends improvements in the details of construction Vand arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved lush tank.

Fig. 2 is a central verticalseetion ot the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end ot the shell and plunger, the full lines showing the position of the parts when forming a. partial vacuum to i'lush the tank, and the dotted lines showing the position ot the same parts when at rest.

1 indicates a tank, through the bottom ot which extends a pipe section 2, into which fits a iushing pipe 3. The flushingpipe 3 is suitably coupled to the pipe section 2 and below the tank it is formed with a trap 4. x

Surrounding the pipe section 2 and spaced therefrom is a cylindrical stationary shell 5, from the upper end of which depends a short pipe 6,. ot less diameter than the pipe section 2 and depending into the latter and terminating below the plane of the greatest level of the water in the tank, then shell .being supported on the pipe 2, by spiders 5a.

On top of the shell above the `pipe 6, is a valve seat 7 which receives a disk valve 8 provided with a small vent opening 9. A cage 10 surrounds the valve k8, to retain same in position, in the operation ot the apparatus.

A cylindrical hollow plunger 12 lits over the shel-l 5, and is provided with a hollow projection 13 to inclose the cage 10. ln the top of the plunger 12 lis la valve seat 11i, to receive a disk valve 15, and fitting over same is a cage 16 to retain the valve in place. 1T indicates a stud which extends "from the top of the shell 5, and engages the valve 15 when the plunger is lowered, to insure oit the Avalve being-` removed from its seat, for a purpose which Iwill presently appear.

An operating lever 18 isiulerumed at 19, and at its end it is provided with a pull chain 20, to flush the closet, the; opposite end of the lever engaging under yok 21 on the hollow projection 13.

Tapped in the upper neck of the trap f1 is one end of Siphon` pipe 23, which extends up through the tank and above the normal water level indicated bythe dotted line 22, and extends downwardly andV terminates just above ,the level of the water in the tank after the iiushing operationhas taken place. The purpose 'of this pipe is to admit air to the trap about at the time theV water reaches the lowest level, to destroythe partial vacuum in the shell, and thereby prevent the destruction of the seal in the trap.

The normal level of the water in the tank 1 is indicated by the dotted line 22, and when the lever 18Yis operated the plunger 12 is raised, the movement of the plunger being guided by the shell 5, and the snug fit of the parts serving as a means to prevent water beingdrawn in between the joints to any appreciable extent. When the plunger is elevated, a partial vacuum in the space between the shell 5 and the plunger 12 is created. This action raises the valve 8, and the partial vacuum is extended to thespaee in the shell above the/normal level of the water, and ofcourse in the section ot Apipe 2. The lifting of the plunger draws the air through the section of the pipe 2, and the space in the upper end of the shell causing the water to iiow over the top of pipe 2,`which precludes the suction of water into the space between the plunger l and shell. 1n other words by terminating the pipe G at a point below the top of the pipe 2,v the ,partial vacuum is formed before the water flowing over the -pipef2 reaches the `end of pipe 6,

This, it will be seen eectually prevents the water being drawn through the pipe 6 and above the shell.

If the pipe 6 were omitted the current of air flowing through the opening in the valve seat 7 would beupward and would tend Vof pipe 6, thus causing a downward current of air in the upper portion of the pipe secf tion 2, which would prevent theabove men.-

tioned splashing.

Y In the operation of the plunger, the vent opening 9 in the valve in no way affects the formation of the artial vacuum. However, should the elevation of the plunger be only suflicient to balance the parts and create suiiicient vacuum to cause the water to flow, but'not flush, the air admitted through the valve 15, previously opened by the stud 17, between the plunger and the shell will vent through the opening 9, in the now seated valve 8, and thus destroy the partial vacuum within the shell and thereby stop the running of the water, and cause the parts to assume their'normal position.

After the plunger .12 is elevated, the pull onthe chain is released, the plunger lowers of its own weight, and the valve 8 is lowered onV its seat, while the valve 15 is opened to release air between the shell and plunger.

. If, as previously mentioned, water should have found its way abovethe shell when the tank was flushed, this water will be'gradu- Vally 'forced through the opening controlled by the valve 15 when the plunger is lowered.

Vhile it is preferred that the valves v8 and 15 be employed for the purposes described, yet it will be apparent from the previous description and illustration that the use of these valves is not absolutely essential. For example, assume the plunger without'openings, it will be understood that as the plunger is elevated, it will tend to draw air from the space within the stationary shell and abovethe water line, through the restricted pipe 6, thus tending to create a vacuum within the shell suflioient to raise the water level above that of the pipeV section 2 and start the siphonic action. As the water liows by the lower openend of the pipe 6, it will obviously draw the air from between the shell and plunger downwardly through the pipe V6 and carry it off with the water flowing to the flush. Thus the air withdrawn from the stationary shell to start the siphon will be takenj from the plunger through the pipe Gand carried off withthe moving column of water. Thus the airis disposed of while the waterinthe tank has a head above the outlet of the'pipe 6, and

therefore this air is without eliect on the siphonic action. lt will be understood that air coming rom the bottom end of pipe 6 cannot kill the siphonic action as long as the head of water in the tank is above the bottom end of pipe 6, and therefore the air in the shell will have been substantially exhausted before the water head in the tank is lowered te the bottoni end of the pipe 6. Thus the relief valves proposed are not absolutely essential as with the restricted pipe G arranged as shown, the action will be properly completed.

lt is not'absolutely necessary that the vent opening be inthe valve 8. The vent may be in any point in the top of the shell so long as it communicates with the short pipe 6, to provide an uninterrupted conduit for the free passage of air to destroy the partial vacuum in the shell if it should happen that suflieient movement of the plunger is not imparted when the chain is pulled.

At or about the time the water in the tank reaches the lower level, indicated by the d0tted line 80, after the llushing operation has taken place, it is of course necessary to prevent destruction of the water seal in the trap. This is taken care of by the siphon pipe 23. Air Arushes in the lower end of the siphon pipe, and the effect of the partial vacuum in the pipe section 2 is destroyed, sincepthe momentum of the head of'water in the flush pipe beyond the trap draws aiil through the siphon pipe, and promptly the pressure of the vacuum on the water in pipe 2 is destroyed. Tt therefore follows that the partial vvacuum in pipe 2 cannot act to force the water from the trap and destroy the seal, and render the apparatus unfit for .the succeeding operation.

ln addition te the siphon pipe serving the purpose described, it also acts to provide an additional supply of water for flushing purposes. llhen the tank is flushed, the pull of the water in passing through the flush pipe, siphcns water through the siphon pipe, as will be obvious. Y

l have found that by varying the height of the free end of the Siphon pipe with reference to the lower water level, the noise usually incident tov a flushing operation, can

be largely eliminated. rTherefore it is my purpose to arrange the pipe section 31, so that it canbe adjusted to suit the lower water level to prevent the noise when flushing. This adjustment may be accomplished by threading the lower end of the pipe 23, in the trap, as shown at 23;L in Fig. 1. Y

The vent opening 9 in the valve 8, as previously stated, serves to produce a most important result, and one which is vital `in a stmcturejof this general type. 1f in pullingl the chain, the operator should not raise the plunger sufficiently to flush the tank,A it

would produce equalization or balancingy is() of the siphoning of the water, and the action of the plunger. In this event the siphon action set up would just barely be suhcient to raise a constant leaking or flowing of the water through the flush pipe, and lower the water a trifle in the tank and thereby partially open the valve, a condition which cannot be destroyed without the destruction of the partial vacuum set up. Should this condition arise in my apparatus, the air passing through the vent opening will in a short time be quite suiiicient to destroy the partial vacuum in the shell, and thereby permit the parts to assume normal position, and prevent leakage or constant waste of water.

What I claim is l. In a flushing apparatus, the oombination of a tank, a shell in the tank and open at the bottom, a flush pipe extending into the shell, a short pipe extending from the top of the shell and extending into the flush pipe and terminating below theV plane of the top of the latter, a valve on top of the shell for controlling the inlet end of the short pipe, a hollow plunger fitting over the shell, a valve in the top of the plunger for admitting air between the plunger and shell when the plunger is lowered, means Jfor raising the plunger to produoe a partial vacuum in the shell to cause the water in the tank to be siphoned through the flush pipe, the valve on the shell opening when the plunger is raised, and means for automatically replenishing the tank with water.

2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a fixed flush pipe extending up into the tank, and provided with a trap, a iixed inverted shell over the free end of the itlush pipe, a 'valve in the top of the shell, said valve having a constantly open vent, a short pipe depending Jfrom the shell and extending` into the upper end of the flush pipe, a hollow plunger fitting over the shell, a valve in the top of the plunger, and means for elevating the plunger, the valve in the shell opening and the valve in the plunger closing when the plunger is elevated, whereby a partial vacuum is formed in the shell, the vent opening admitting air to the interior ol the shell and gradually destroying the partial vacuum in case the plunger is not moved suflioiently.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a iixed flush pipe extending up into the tank, the flush pipe having a trap, an inverted shell tting over the top of the flush pipe, a short pipe depending from the top of the shell and extending into the iiush pipe, a valve for controlling the passage through the short pipe, and normally opening outwardly, a hollow plunger fitting over the hollow shell, and a valve in the stop of the plunger, said valve normally opening when the shell is lowered, means for elevating the plunger to form a partial vacuum in the shell to cause the water to be siphoned from the tank, a siphon pipe communicating with the top oi' the trap and terminating at or near the lower water level in the tank, whereby to destroy the partial vacuum in the shell after the tank is flushed.

a. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a fixed flush pipe extending up into the tank, the i'lush pipe having a trap, an inverted shell litting over the top of the flush pipe, a short pipe depending from the top of the shell and extending into the flush pipe, a valve vfor controlling the passage through the short pipe, and normally opening outwardly, a hollow plunger fitting over the hollow shell, a valve in the top of the plunger, said valve normally opening when the shell is lowered, means for elevating the plunger to form a partial vacuum in the shell to cause the water to be siphoned from the tank, a siphon pipe communicating with the top of the trap, the free end or" said pipe terminating at or near the lower water level in the tank, whereby to noiselessly destroy the partial vacuum in the shell after the tank is flushed.

5. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a lixed flush pipe extending up into the tank and provided with a trap, a fixed inverted shell over the free end of the flush pipe, a short pipe depending from the shell and extended into the flush pipe below the top level of the same, a valve for controlling the upper end ol the short pipe, a hollow plunger titting over the shell, a valve in the top of the plunger', the valve in the shell opening and the valve in the plunger closing when the plunger is elevated, whereby a partial vacuum is formed in the shell, and means 'for maintaining a constant passage for the admission o air to the shell to prevent the continuation of a partial vacuum after the plunger is operated.

6. In a. flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a shell in the tank and open at tl e bottoni, a flush pipe extending into the shell, a hollow plunger iitted over the shell and operative to cause a partial vacuum in the shell on the outward movement of such plunger relative to the shell, means for operating the shell, and a short pipe of comparatively restricted bore carried by and opening through the shell, said pipe terminating in an open end within the flush pipe below the normal level of water'in the tank. v

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

JOHN S. SWEENY,

IIO 

